Cotton chopper and cultivator.



D. L. THORNTON.

COTTON CHOPPER AND GULTIVATOR. APYLIGATIQN FILED MAY 29, 1911.

1,028,402." Patentd June 4, 1912.

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, t Moi/neg D. L. THORNTON. COTTON CHOPPER AND GULTIVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 29, 1911.

Patented June 4, 1912.

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APPLIOA-TION FILED MAY 29, 1911. Patented June 4, 1912.

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\* l & Ng "ff/ W N V g 01 \[W 1? R 1% p WW1 1 1 I W N n I? 6 W 7 n 3 (QI Q fiafcu oral .1: 25012223022 DURWORD L. THORNTON, 0F MONROE, GEORGIA.

COTTON CHOPPER AND CULTIVATOR.

ossaoa Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June a, 1912.

Application filed May 29, 1911. Serial No. 630,087.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Dnnwonn L. THORN- TON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Monroe, in the county of lValton and State ofGeorgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cot-tonChoppers and Cultivators, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to agricultural machines and the principal objectof the same is to provide a cotton chopper and cultivator in which novelchoppers are employed as well as novel cultivator teeth, means beingprovided for vertically adjusting the forward end of the machine so thatwhen necessary or desirable the choppers can be raised clear of theground.

The invention also contemplates novel draft rigging by means of whichthe draft animal, or animals, can travel to one side of the path ofmovement of the machine or in front of the machine.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in side elevation ofthe improved agricultural machine, one of the supporting wheels beingomitted. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a central verticallongitudinal sectional view taken on the line 33, Fig. 2. Fig. 4; is avertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 44t, Fig. 2.

The improved agricultural machine comprises an arched axle K5, thespindles 6 of which carry the supporting wheels 7. The chopping andexcavating devices (to be specifically referred to) are carried by acentral beam 8 the forward portion of which is straddled by the arch ofaxle 5, the rear end of said beam being provided with the handles 9.Supporting spring arms 10 that are disposed on opposite sides of beam 8have their inturned rear ends 11 connected to the said beam 8 by thebolts 12, and their forward ends are clamped to the axle spindles 6 bythe straps 13 and bolts 14. The central portion of the arch of axle 5 isprovided with a transverse opening 15 through which an externallythreaded adjusting bolt 16 is slidable. Bolt 16 extends verticallythrough the forward portion of beam 8. Bolt 16 is loose in beam 8 andcarries a lower collar 17 upon which the lower end of a spring 18 thatis coiled about said bolt rests. The upper end of spring 18 abuts a nut19 that is adjustable on bolt 16 for regulating the ten sion of spring18. The bolt 16 is adjusted vertically relative to axle 5 by means ofthe nuts 20 and 21 that are carried by said bolt and engage,respectively the upper and lower surfaces of said axle. The nuts 20 and21 are equipped with handles 22 by means of which the nuts can bemanually manipulated to adjust the bolt 16 vertically.

From the foregoing description it will be clear that the forward end ofbeam 8 can be vertically adjusted relative to the axle 5, and that thespring 18 permits the said beam to have a limited movement 011 the bolt16 to absorb shocks and jars incidental to the operation of the machine.

Outwardly curved, downwardly projecting inclined hanger arms 23 projectrearwardly from opposite sides of the forward end of beam 8 and theirfree ends have the outer ends of the chopper shafts 2st jour naledtherein. The inner ends of shafts 24L are j ournaled in and projectthrough hanger bearings 25 that depend from opposite sides of beam 8.The arms 22 and 25 retain the shafts 24 in divergent relation and theinnor ends of said shafts 2st carry beveled .gears 26 that are in meshto cause said shafts 24C to rotate in unison. Chopper disks 27 arecarried by the shafts 24, said disks be ing concaved and provided withradial slots 28 that provide a plurality of radiating blades 29.

Two or more sets of bars 30 have their inner ends pivotally connected tothe bottom surface of beam 8 by the bolts 31. The sets of bars 30project laterally from the beam 8 and carry the cultivating teeth 32.The teeth 32 connect the members of each set of bars 30 in spacedparallel relation. Adjusting links 33 have their outer ends pivotallyconnected to the outer portions of the bars 30 and their inner ends arearranged in crossing relation and provided with 1011- gitudinal slots 34through which a bolt 35 projects that depends from the beam 8. Bolt 335permits the links 33 to be moved to obtain adjustments of the cultivatorbars 30, as will be clear. A hanger bar 36 depends from the bottom ofthe beam 6 and its longitudinally arranged rear end 37 has thetransversely arranged straps 38 fastened thereto, said straps carryingthe shovels 39.

The forward bolts 14 of the clamping straps 13 have the rear ends oflinks 10 pivotally connected thereto. The forward ends of links arepivotally connected to the end bolts All that connect the draft bars 42.Draft bars 42 are also connected by the central bolt 43 on which thehook a4 is pivotally mounted, said hook being adapted for engagementwith the whiflie-tree not shown, to which the draft animal is attached.As will be clear, the use of the links 40 for connecting the bars 42 tothe forward end of the machine permits the draft animal to travel infront of beam 8 or to either side thereof without affecting thedirection of travel of the machine.

It will be understood from the foregoing that this invention providesmeans whereby the choppers can be adjusted vertically to regulate thedepth of cut made and also to.

lift the same clear of the ground to facilitate transportation of themachine.

The arrangement of the shafts 24: is such that the choppers 27 are indivergent relation, and their slots 28 are in alinement and the gears 26cause said choppers to rotate in unison. This arrangement of chopperscauses the same to practically meet at the ground so their blades 29will cut the cotton and throw the same out at that point, and that thealined notches leaves a skip space for the cotton to remain.

What I claim as my invention is 1. An agricultural machine comprising anaxle, wheels carried thereby, a beam, supporting arms connected to therear portion of said beam, means connecting said arms to said axle,means for adjustably connecting the forward portion of said beam to saidaxle, hanger bearings carried by opposite sides of said beam, shaftsjournaled in said bearings and supported in divergent relation, gearconnections between the inner ends of said shafts, and chopping meanscarried by said shafts.

2. An agricultural machine comprising an arched axle, wheels carried bythe spindles thereof, a beam, supporting arms provided with inturnedrear ends, means for connecting the rear ends of said arms to the rearportion of said beam, means for rigidly connecting the forward ends ofsaid arms to said axle, adjusting means for connecting the forward endof said beam to said axle, chopping means carried by the forwardportie-n of said beam, and cultivating means carried by the rear portionof said beam.

3. An agricultural machine comprising an arched axle, wheels therefor, abeam, means for connecting the rear portion of said beam to said axle,an adjusting bolt extending through the forward end of said beam and thecentral portion of said axle, nuts on said bolt for engaging the upperand lower surfaces of said axle, handles carried by said nuts, a springcoiled about said bolt and bearing upon said beam, means carried by saidbolt for regulating the tension of said spring, chopping means carriedby said beam, and cultivating means carried by said beam.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

DURWORD L. THORNTON.

lVit-nesses N. L. GALLAWAY, J. O. LAWRENCE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained. for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

